Patterns of nonfatal heroin overdose over a 3-year period: findings from the Australian treatment outcome study

J Urban Health. 2007 Mar;84(2):283-91. doi: 10.1007/s11524-006-9156-0.

Abstract

To determine annual patterns and correlates of nonfatal heroin overdose across 3 years, data were analyzed on 387 heroin users recruited for the Australian Treatment Outcome Study (ATOS), interviewed at 12, 24, and 36 months. A heroin overdose across follow-up was reported by 18.6%, and naloxone had been administered to 11.9%. Annual rates of overdose declined between baseline and 12 months and then remained stable. Previous overdose experience was strongly related to subsequent overdose. Those with a history of overdose before ATOS were significantly more likely to overdose during the study period. In particular, there was a strong association between overdose experience in any 1 year and increased overdose risk in the subsequent year. This is the first study to examine long-term annual trends in nonfatal heroin overdose. While overdose rates declined after extensive treatment, substantial proportions continued to overdose in each year, and this was strongly associated with overdose history.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Buprenorphine / therapeutic use
  • Cohort Studies
  • Drug Overdose / drug therapy
  • Drug Overdose / epidemiology*
  • Episode of Care
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Heroin / poisoning*
  • Heroin Dependence / complications
  • Heroin Dependence / epidemiology*
  • Heroin Dependence / rehabilitation*
  • Humans
  • Inactivation, Metabolic
  • Incidence
  • Interviews as Topic
  • Male
  • Methadone / therapeutic use
  • Middle Aged
  • Naloxone / therapeutic use
  • Needle-Exchange Programs / statistics & numerical data
  • New South Wales / epidemiology
  • Substance Abuse Treatment Centers / statistics & numerical data
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Naloxone
  • Buprenorphine
  • Heroin
  • Methadone